• Titans back in national contention
    February 14, 2018
    A frustrating freshman season gave Illinois Wesleyan's seniors a chip that they've carried on their shoulders for three years. It led them to the NCAA tournament last year, and the Titans want even more postseason success this year. More in Around the Central.
  • Warriors team up for turnaround
    February 07, 2018
    Led by coach Klay Knueppel's youngest daughter, Wisconsin Lutheran is on pace to return to the NCAA tournament after a rare miss last year. Last year's shortcomings fueled this season's historic start. More in Around the Central.
  • Working for the weekend
    January 31, 2018
    The Maroons raced through the first leg of UAA play unbeaten and are 8-0 on the road. The weekends pale in comparison to the intensity Chicago's women bring to practice each week. More in Around the Central.
  • Wild, wild WIAC
    January 25, 2018
    The best conference in the country is shaping up to have the most exciting finish as well. The WIAC is deep, competitive, and this year, completely unpredictable. More in Around the Central.
  • Ripon rebuild comes full circle
    January 17, 2018
    As freshmen, the Red Hawks women endured a two-win season. But that fortified their resolve and they're now seeing the reward of their work ethic as seniors, leading the MWC. More in Around the Central.
  • Cardinals make history, aim for more
    January 10, 2018
    North Central (Ill.) has reached multiple individual milestones already this year, but the Cardinals have their sights on a more important goal: continuing to improve on defense and advance to the NCAA tournament for a third straight year. More in Around the Central.
  • A family and program in transition
    January 03, 2018
    It's been a whirlwind of a year for the WashU women's basketball program and for the Henderson family. Thankfully, they have one another to lean on during this transition. More in Around the Central.
  • Central questions for 2018
    December 26, 2017
    After a flurry of interesting non-conference games this week, the Central region will settle into its conference races when we turn the page to 2018. What are the most intriguing story lines for one of Division III's deepest region? Here's a good place to start.
  • WIAC champions, b'gosh!
    February 21, 2017
    UW-Oshkosh had been on the verge of winning the WIAC title since shortly after coach Brad Fischer arrived. Last week the Titans broke through with senior point guard Taylor Schmidt leading the charge. Erik Buchinger has their story in Around the Central.
  • Falcons focused on great opportunities
    February 09, 2017
    UW-River Falls heads into its big game against Whitewater knowing that it's on the verge of something special. A win there gives the Falcons the WIAC title and one or two more would lock up an NCAA tournament bid. Coach Jeff Berkof and his team are focused on taking advantage of these opportunities, as Erik Buchinger explains in Around the Central.
  • St. Norbert moves beyond the streak
    February 02, 2017
    St. Norbert's 72-game MWC winning streak ended when the Green Knights lost to Ripon last month. Coach Grzesk and his team have used that loss to look back on what they accomplished and look forward to what they still can. Erik Buchinger has the story in Around the Central.
  • Warhawks soldier on with stingy D
    January 24, 2017
    This season hasn't gone according to plan for UW-Whitewater because of injuries, but the Warhawks are flying high anyway. They sit atop the conference because of tough defense and emerging players like Brooke Trewyn. Erik Buchinger has more in Around the Central.
  • Meet the new Vikes, same as the old Vikes
    January 18, 2017
    Augustana entered the season without a starter from last year and still finds itself atop the CCIW. How'd the Vikings do it? A team-trip over the summer and a strong junior varsity program are part of the story. Erik Buchinger has more of it in Around the Central.
  • Bears built for long-haul
    January 12, 2017
    Conference play started on a down note for the Washington U. women, but there's a long way to go and the Bears are built to contend for another UAA crown. Erik Buchinger talks with Coach Nancy Fahey about the Bears' balance and ball-control approach in Around the Central.
  • UWO celebrates a promise kept
    January 03, 2017
    Before losing his father to throat cancer, former Oshkosh player Andre Wallace promised that he would earn his college degree. When a snow storm cancelled Wallace's chance to receive his diploma, the Titans came up with a creative way to celebrate the occasion. Erik Buchinger has the story in Around the Central.
  • North Park eyes returns to prominence
    December 06, 2016
    Once upon a time North Park was the most dominant program in Division III basketball, winning five national titles in 10 years. Then the Vikings dropped out of the national picture and into the CCIW cellar for years. But now the Vikings have two All-Americans, a Top 25 ranking and dreams of a bigger prize. Erik Buchinger has more in Around the Central.
  • Sabin shooting for a banner
    November 30, 2016
    All-American Ty Sabin already owns the Ripon College men's basketball record book and he broke his own single-game scoring record on Saturday night. But he's shooting for a MWC title, and he doesn't often miss. Erik Buchinger has more on the red hot Red Hawk in Around the Central.
  • Eagles put dream season behind them
    November 22, 2016
    Last season Benedictine didn't lose a game until the national championship game. This season the Eagles have lost two of their first three games albeit to ranked teams. The Eagles recognize they're a different team with different players and different expectations. Erik Buchinger talks with Ben U head coach Keith Bunkenburg about the road ahead.
  • Looking to make a run
    March 01, 2016
    Wheaton was less than enthused with its one-and-out appearance in the NCAA Tournament last year. The Thunder are looking to extend their roll a little longer this time around.
  • River Falls completes its run to top of WIAC standings
    February 23, 2016
    UW-River Falls completed its one-year turnaround, rallying from consecutive eighth-place finishes in the WIAC to winning the conference's top seed this weekend with help from the team's only senior, Richell Mehus.
  • A coach's rare opportunity
    February 16, 2016
    Todd Raridon has had a lot of success in coaching Division III basketball. But lately, he's been able to credit his three sons with part of that success as well, including Connor Raridon, who helped his dad reach a milestone.
  • Streaking through the Midwest Conference
    February 09, 2016
    St. Norbert's men's basketball team has won 53 consecutive conference games and 59 in a row against conference opponents, putting the Green Knights in record territory.
  • 'I really didn't know what I was getting into'
    February 02, 2016
    When Jared Staege first went off to college, he figured his time as an athlete was over. But four years later, Staege is leading the UW-La Crosse men’s basketball team in its pursuit of its first WIAC championship since 1965.
  • Westminster's sophomores surging in SLIAC
    January 26, 2016
    The Blue Jays took their lumps in the non-conference portion of their schedule, but this sophomore-led squad has turned it around once starting the SLIAC slate.
  • Fahey: D-III's coaching 'legend'
    January 19, 2016
    She'll gladly tell you she hasn't hit a shot in decades, but when you get to 700 wins faster than anyone not named Geno Auriemma ... sorry, at some point, it's the coaching. More about Nancy Fahey in this week's Around the Central.
  • Johnson's long road ends at Benedictine
    January 12, 2016
    The much-traveled Luke Johnson started his career at Carthage, then went to Benedictine, then chose Division II. But he chose to return to the Eagles last season and he has helped a balanced Benedictine squad start off 14-0.
  • The Augustana experience includes setting ego aside
    January 05, 2016
    Experience is a valuable asset, and the Augustana men’s basketball team is loaded with it. But eight seniors, each of whom came to Augie as freshmen, have had to deal with the expectations that come with that experience. More in Around the Central.
  • Sabin is Ripon's all-around threat
    December 08, 2015
    Ty Sabin will drive to the hole, shoot the midrange jumper, hit the three or draw contact and go to the line. With that arsenal, it's no surprise he entered his junior season at Ripon already having scored 1,000 career points.
  • Two ACLs, three surgeries, but one driving will to compete
    November 24, 2015
    It’s hard to question the love of basketball that North Central’s Lauren Hernandez possesses considering the hardships she has endured to return to the court this season.
  • This season's games to watch
    November 17, 2015
    With six men’s teams from the region ranked in the Preseason Top 25 and another five receiving votes, plus three ranked women’s teams to go with four more receiving votes, there is sure to be a lot of excitement between now and March – April for the women.